Underground conduit



P 1935. E. T. KEEFE ET AL 2,013,888

UNDERGROUND C ONDUI T Filed May 20, 1933 v 2 Sheets$heet 2 Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNDERGROUND CONDUIT Application May 20, 1933, Serial No. 672,018

4 Claims.

This invention relates to enclosing and protecting conduits for underground pipe lines and more particularly, though not exclusively, for those intended to convey steam for heating or power purposes.

The invention is intended to provide a sectional waterproof conduit which may be constructed, if desired, of reinforced concrete in the form of mechanically simple, standardized units, with extremely simple but effective provision for supporting and guiding at any desired points one or more contained pipe lines.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation taken through one of the sectional conduit units embedded in the ground and showing pipe line supporting devices which may be utilized;

Fig. 2 is a, central, longitudinal, sectional elevation, on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing one unit and its connection to the next two adjacent units;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the upper section of one of the units;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the lower mating section of the same unit;

Fig. 5 is a plan of one of the pipe roll supporting brackets;

Fig. 6 is an elevation, partly in section, of the same bracket;

Fig. '7 is a front elevation of the same bracket;

Fig. 8 is a plan of a slightly modified form of bracket; and

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the bracket shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings and to the specific embodiment of the invention therein shown, while each unit may be constructed of iron or any other desired material, We prefer to employ for that purpose concrete reinforced as by wire mesh or similar reinforcement, the units being either precast or molded at the point of installation, the design, form and construction of the sections being particularly selected to permit the practical employment of concrete for this purpose, as will more fully appear.

Each unit comprises an upper section H, the main body portion of which presents a generally semi or parti-cylindrical cross-sectional contour, terminating in opposite vertical parallel sides which align and mate with the sides of the under or bottom section l3 and presenting a substantially smooth, unbroken, inner surface.

The main body portion of the under section l3 also presents a substantially smooth, unbroken, inner surface and has a cross-sectional contour 5 presenting a broad and generally flattened bottom portion l5 with sides which are substantially upright along its inner walls at H, the upright sides being joined to the flattened bottom portion by a curved portion I8 of arc-shaped contour. its outer walls, however, at l9 each side is flared outwardly so as to present to the broken stone 2| or other material on which the unit rests, or in which it is embedded, a supporting surface which is oblique to the direction in which the force of 15 gravity acts and to present also a greatly thickened cross-section at the point where the upper section rests thereon. At the point of this thickened cross-section, the upper edges of the sides are flattened and recessed and the outer walls of the sides are extended above the flattened portion to form a flanged wall 23, thus providing a seat for the sides of the upper section, an overlapping joint for the two sections and a space for the cement or other jointing material 25.

The described form of cross-section is of special utility where reinforced concrete is employed, since it best avails of compressive strength of the concrete in resisting all stress which may be imposed on the walls of the bottom section in supporting the upper section and the earthy or other load which may be carrier thereby.

At one end of each conduit unit, the upper section is provided with a bell-shaped enlargement 2? and the'lower section also with a bell-shaped enlargement 29. When the upper and lower sections are joined as described, these enlargements are brought into mating relation and provide an enlargement for one end of the section into which the adjoining end of the next section unit may be inserted in telescopic relation, as shown in Fig. 2, after which the joint is sealed by concrete, grout or other jointing material.

Within the conduit there are shown two pipe lines comprising the main or steam pipe 3! and 45 the return pipe 33, each covered with the usual coating 35 of asbestos or other material, and supported and guided at appropriate intervals above the flattened bottom of the lower section so that ample drainage space is provided beneath the pipe lines.

To support the pipe lines there is provided a transverse pipe supporting shaft 31 carrying under each pipe a roller 39 on which rests an elongated plate or saddle 4| having a contour trans- 55' Along 10 I versely conforming to the contour of the insulating covering which rests thereagainst. The saddie plate is permanently fastened to the pipe at each of its four corners by a projection 33 extending through the insulation and having its tip spot-welded to the pipe. The roller serves as a support for the pipe, while permitting the latter to move with its saddle over the roller as may be required to take care of contraction or expansion.

One feature of novelty is the provision for carrying and positioning the transverse pipe supporting member 3? by small, simple, detached brackets at each opposite end, thus permitting the effective support of the member 3'! irrespective of its length, without the need of structurally large or clumsy supporting devices, or the need of lugs, projections or the like cast on the inner walls of the conduit. This permits the conduit section to be cast with a smooth inner surface, unbroken by projections, indentations or the like, which is a marked advantage where concrete is used as a material for the sections.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, two separate detached supporting brackets 65, which may be made of cast iron, are employed, one at each opposite end of the member 31 and of a construction illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Each bracket comprises a broad, curved plate having an outer face or wall 47, adapted to seat or rest against, and having substantially the same radius of curvature as, the curved inner wall portion 18 which connects the flattened bottom portion 55 and the vertical side walls I! of the under conduit section I4. The inner face of the curved plate is provided with webs 49 which form an open-top, bearing recess adapted to receive the ends of the shaft 31.

To assemble the pipe supporting structure after the lower conduit section has been positioned, it is only necessary to place the two brackets in position each resting in opposite alignment against the curved inner wall portions If! on the conduit section and drop the ends of the shaft each into its bearing recess in the bracket, whereupon the entire supporting structure becomes rigidly fixed in position. Any pressure from above enforces a wedging action which increases the security of the brackets against displacement so that no cement or other fastening is required.

Since these'brackets do not depend for their fastening to the Walls of the bottom section upon any definitely positioned formations on the walls, they may be placed in any desired position lengthwise the section and any desired number of them may be employed distributed at any desired regular or irregular intervals.

The separation and attachment of the two brackets permit each one separately to adapt itself not only to varying lengths of the shaft 31 for different sizes of conduits, but also to adapt itself to the contour of the opposite walls of the lower conduit section, thereby taking care of any irregularities or non-uniformity in the contour of such walls.

In Figs. 8 and 9 there is shown a modified form of supporting bracket, which is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7, except that the broad, curved, bearing face 4'! is provided with an outstanding, centrally arranged, curved fin 53 projecting from the bearing face. In utilizing the bracket shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the curved fin is inserted between the mating ends of two longitudinally mating bottom sections, with the curved bearing wall contacting on one side of the fin with the curved inner wall portion of one section and on the opposite side of the fin With the curved inner wall of the mating section. The jointing material is then applied to secure ie two sections together. This insures the cor- 5 rect alignment of the two bearing brackets without the need for any adjustment before placing the transverse supporting member 3? in the bearing recesses of the brackets. While I have herein shown and described for 10 purposes of illustration one specific embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that extensive deviations may be made from the form and relative arrangement of parts herein shown, all without departing from the spirit thereof.

We claim: 7 V

1. An enclosing conduit for an underground pipe line composed of sectional longitudinal units of reinforced concrete, each comprising an upper section having a parti-cylindrical cross-sectional contour terminating in straight sides and a bottom section having a broad, flattened, bottom portion and having a cross-sectional contour presenting sides, the inner walls of which'are substantially straight and mate and align with the sides of the top section, the straight sides and flattened bottom portion of the lower section being connected by a curved portion; the outer walls of each side of the bottom section being flared outwardly to present an oblique supporting surface and thickened outer cross-section, the sides of said thickened cross-section being recessed and having an upwardly extending flanged wall to provide a-seat for the straight sides of said upper section, and means for supporting said pipe line within said conduit and on the walls of said bottom section.

2. An enclosing conduit for an underground pipe line composed of sectional longitudinal units of reinforced concrete, each comprising an upper 40 section and a bottom section, the latter having a broad, flattened, bottom portion and having a cross-sectional contour presenting sides, the inner walls of which are substantially straight and mate with the sdes of the top section, the straight sides and flattened bottom portion of the lower section being connected by a curved portion and the outer walls of each'side of said bottom being flared outwardly to present an oblique supporting surface and thickened outer cross-section, and means for supporting said pipe line within said conduit comprising a mem ber supported on and spanning the side walls of said bottom section.

3. An enclosing conduit for an underground pipe line, comprising longitudinally mating units each consisting of an upper section and a lower section, and means for supporting the pipe line above the bottom of the under section comprising a transverse pipe supporting member and sep- 0' arate detached opposite brackets, one for carrymg each end of the transverse supporting member, said brackets having each a broad bearing face on which it is adapted to rest loosely against the inner side Walls of said bottom section, the 5 cross-sectional contour of said unit presenting downwardly converging inner side walls which are substantially smooth and projectionless within the area of contact with the brackets and to conform to which the broad bearing face on each bracket is shaped, whereby said brackets sustain the weight of said pipe supporting member each solely by its wedging action.

4. An enclosing conduit for an underground pipe line, comprising longitudinally mating units of reinforced concrete each consisting of an upper section and a lower section, the inner walls of said under section having a cross-sectional contour presenting a broad, flattened bottom and substantially upright sides connected by a curved portion, and means for supporting a pipe line above the bottom of the under section comprising a transverse pipe supporting member and. separate detached opposite brackets, one for carrying each end of the transverse supporting member, said brackets having each a broad,

curved bearing face shaped to conform to the curved. inner walls of the bottom section and on which it is adapted to rest loosely thereagainst, the inner side walls of the unit being substantially smooth and projectionless within the area of contact with the brackets, whereby said brackets sustain the weight of said supporting member each solely by its wedging action.

EDMUND T. HAROLD E. MCGREGOR. 

